Pep Guardiola praised Erling Haaland after the striker's two first-half objectives impressed Manchester Metropolis to a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth and took them second within the desk, although the supervisor additionally criticised officiating on the Etihad Stadium throughout his 9 years in cost.
Haaland's twelfth and thirteenth league objectives of the season got here on 17 and 33 minutes, Nico O'Reilly's third for Metropolis approaching the hour. Tyler Adams equalised within the twenty fifth minute for the guests but it surely was a controversial objective as David Brooks positioned a hand on Gianluigi Donnarumma at Alex Scott's nook, eradicating it from the goalkeeper on the final second.
Anthony Taylor waved away Metropolis's complaints. Afterwards, Guardiola referred to as the incident “100%” a foul and criticised the referee. “I mentioned to him after, after we see one another: ‘Inform me if it's a foul or not as a result of I'm ready. If it's a foul or not, simply inform me. Simply have a look [at a replay].' It's high-quality. They're courageous right here. Within the Etihad they [referees] are courageous, so courageous.
“I'm sorry to let you know the unbelievable objective for [due to] the official. However I'm one decade right here and we all know one another fairly nicely [him and referees]. I'm so happy at what we achieved with Man Metropolis, regardless of all the things, so it has been so good. Don't fear, I don't name the officers and the referees, I'm not the supervisor to do this. However previously, numerous prestigious managers referred to as them.”
Donnarumma was booked for complaining. Guardiola was pithy about this. “We conceded the yellow card, that's good,” the supervisor mentioned. “Now we have James Trafford [as a deputy]. It's not an issue.”
Guardiola was far happier with Haaland, as Metropolis's subsequent highest league goalscorer is Burnley's Maxime Estève, with two personal objectives. “With out him, it'd be powerful, to be sincere,” mentioned the 54-year-old. “And he's extremely coachable – I'm powerful generally with him. And he at all times tries to be open-minded.”
Metropolis are six factors behind Arsenal. Requested about his workforce as title challengers, Guardiola referenced how Mikel Arteta's aspect have let in solely three objectives. “Hopefully Arsenal can concede one objective in the future, proper?” mentioned Guardiola. “It's simply 10 video games, nonetheless 28 to play.”
